My Grandma Taylor had friends like that. I saw them love each other to the end. And now they are together again with the One they loved all those years. And I know it is good.
My Mom has friends like that. The ones that show up and bring the casserole and a hold your hand when there are no words. Gals that laugh about nothing particular when you desperately need someone to lighten the day, and laugh with you again when it is so good the very air tastes golden. The ones to recount for you the good and trod on the desert ground right alongside you. They know. And they love you. Trusted friends who have walked together so long they "get it" together. Faithful. True. Constant.
I am blessed. I have friends like that. We've walked through thick and thin together. There for the sweet moments and in it when life is....well, life. We do polka dots and we do intercessory prayer. We bring the soup and we pick the paint colors. We help each other see the Lord instead of the road. We see the good and hold hope when the homework isn't in again for the nine hundredth time...and worse. Sometimes much, much harder. The rejoice and mourn friends. Velveteen rabbit friends. Heart friends. Knit together by the hand of the Maker into something so beautiful and precious.
As iron sharpens iron,
so one man sharpens another
so one man sharpens another
- Proverbs 27:17
A word aptly spoken
is like apples of gold in settings of silver.
is like apples of gold in settings of silver.
- Proverbs 25:11
Friends like that. I have a few. A blessed few. And without them, I can't imagine...
Two of those dearest friends are KTG and JennJenn.
Yesterday, that dynamic duo showed up. With vim, vigor, cheer, joy, sewing needles and irons, scouring pads and elbow grease! The Holy Spirit blew through the door with them bringing encouragement and joy! My house was full of beautiful fruit from the Lord...and it wasn't produce. I'm still in awe of the afternoon, ladies! force of nature, is what you two were!
It all began with an email telling me to pick a time and a day because they wanted to come over and help me prep for China. And the reminder that if I didn't want their help that was fine, and I was dumb. Now that's a friend.
Date and time picked. I made my list. And they came.
oh, my lands, people! these girls rocked my house!
The list? In an hour and a half, here's the skinny:
Anna and Emma's bedskirts- ironed
Fridge- cleaned out and reorganized
Freezer- wow! clean, sparkling, orderly
pillow- sewn shut (I know, another pillow I sewed and never sewed shut. One of my charming quirks)
Jeb's shorts- mended and repaired, now on the packing pile
side door- another coat of paint
Anna's room- hoo-ha eliminated, tidied and toys rearranged
and I am sure I am forgetting things here...
Okay. That's only the list of what we did. You should have heard the chatter! And you should have felt the love. I can't describe the ministry of friendship they brought. Me, who usually has words (shocking admission to you, I know) couldn't open my mouth to tell them what it meant.
And what it meant wasn't just the work we accomplished. That was great. It was more than that. It was the doing of life together. Plowing ground as friends. They were celebrating with me and rejoicing in what is to come. It was a lightening of the physical load right alongside love. Acts of love. Grace notes to my heart. Balm for my soul. They were the hands and feet of Jesus as they spoke love over my family and encouraged us for the journey. God's mouthpieces. It all, always, comes back to Him with them. What a blessing.
The ministry of friendship.
Jonathan said to David, "Go in peace, for we have sworn friendship with each other in the name of the LORD, saying, 'The LORD is witness between you and me, and between your descendants and my descendants forever.'
- 1 Sam. 20:42
I love you, KTG and JennJenn. Love, love, love you. thank you! there aren't words to adequately say how much i love you both!
four days! f.o.u.r. days! 4.
Thank you, Jesus, for four. How sweet it is today.
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